Is the FDA trying to kill us? FDA is Ignoring Evidence!

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FDA Ignoring Evidence that New Chemicals Created in Irradiated Food Could

12/15/01- http://www.mercola.com/2001/dec/15/irradiated_food.htm

 

- FDA Ignoring Evidence that New Chemicals Created in Irradiated Food Could

Be Harmful

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ignored growing evidence

that a new class of chemicals formed when food is irradiated could be

harmful, according to a report released today by Public Citizen and the

Center for Food Safety.

The groups are urging the FDA to refrain from legalizing irradiation for any

additional types of food until the new chemicals are tested for safety.

The chemicals, called cyclobutanones, do not occur naturally anywhere on

Earth. They recently were found to cause genetic damage in rats, and genetic

and cellular damage in human and rat cells.

The groups' report, Hidden Harm, details how the FDA has ignored this unique

class of chemicals, which are created in many irradiated foods that the

agency has legalized for sale in this country -- including beef, pork,

chicken, lamb, eggs, mangoes and papayas. It is expected that cyclobutanones

also would be formed in many other foods the FDA is currently considering to

legalize for irradiation.

The organizations today also released a sworn affidavit of toxicologist

William Au, who was retained by the groups to independently review the risks

posed by cyclobutanones and other chemicals formed by irradiation that could

cause genetic damage.

Along with a letter outlining numerous health concerns caused by food

irradiation, the groups filed Hidden Harm and Au's affidavit with the FDA to

oppose pending petitions to legalize irradiation for processed foods, which

comprise 37 percent of the typical American's diet; molluscan shellfish,

such as clams and oysters; crustacean shellfish, such as lobsters and

shrimp; and meat products.

A fifth petition seeks to double the maximum dose of radiation to which

poultry can legally be exposed.

" The risk that the FDA is taking with the health of the American people

cannot be overstated, " said Wenonah Hauter, director of Public Citizen's

Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program. " If government officials

knowingly allow people to eat food that contains these chemicals, they are

courting a major public health disaster. "

Though federal regulations require the FDA to determine whether food

additives proposed for human consumption are likely to cause cancer, birth

defects or other health problems, the agency has not done so for

cyclobutanones, nor have agency officials explained why they have failed to

do so. Under federal law, irradiation is considered a food additive.

Americans likely are unwittingly eating irradiated foods containing

cyclobutanones.

Though most irradiated food sold in stores must be labeled, there is no such

requirement for restaurants, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other

institutional settings. And there is no labeling requirement for foods with

irradiated ingredients, except those containing irradiated meat. Moreover,

due to a lack of reporting requirements for food companies, it is unknown

how much irradiated food is sold in the US, or where.

" Children are likely to be especially vulnerable to the risks of these

untested chemicals in their food, " said Peter T. Jenkins, policy analyst at

the Center for Food Safety. " It is beyond me why the FDA would take a chance

by exposing American children in this way. The science is against it. "

Au, an environmental toxicology professor at the University of Texas Medical

Branch in Galveston, is internationally recognized for his work on the

toxicological mechanisms that induce human disease. For more than 20 years

he has taught, published peer-reviewed research and served on expert

committees. He has received numerous awards, and has published or

co-published more than 100 articles.

" An emphasis should be placed on the products that are unique to the

irradiation process and that are potentially mutagenic, e.g. 2-DCB

[2-dodecylcyclobutanone], " Dr. Au wrote in the affidavit. " Without

conclusive evidence regarding the safety of these products, the safety of

irradiated food cannot be assured. " Au urged the FDA to " seriously and

explicitly " consider " repeated observations " of genetic damage and

reproductive toxicity in feeding experiments.

Though cyclobutanones were first identified in irradiated food in 1971, it

was not until 1998 that German government scientists discovered that one

type of cyclobutanone, 2-DCB, caused genetic damage in rats, and genetic and

cellular damage in human and rat cells.

Subsequently, the scientists found that two other types of cyclobutanones --

2-TCB and 2-TDCB -- caused genetic and cellular damage in human cells. Rat

feeding studies of these two chemicals are expected to be completed soon.

Despite these findings, the FDA not only has failed to publicly acknowledge

the potential risks posed by cyclobutanones, but the agency proceeded to

legalize irradiation for three classes of food even after the first two

German studies were made public.

Last year, the FDA legalized the irradiation of eggs, juice and sprouting

seeds despite the fact that several high-ranking agency officials four

months earlier had attended an international conference in Beijing at which

the 2-DCB toxicity findings were presented and discussed.

Ironically, cyclobutanones are so easily detectable and have been known to

remain in food for such lengthy periods - more than a decade - that they are

commonly used as " markers " to determine whether food has been exposed to

ionizing radiation.

The groups are calling on the FDA to take several steps:

refrain from legalizing irradiation for any additional foods until

comprehensive, published, peer-reviewed research is conducted on

cyclobutanones;

 

conduct a comprehensive analysis of the cyclobutanone levels in foods

covered by irradiation petitions already approved by or pending before the

FDA;

 

convene public hearings to thoroughly explore the potential health effects

of cyclobutanones.

Hidden Harm can be viewed here. Au's affidavit is available here.

 

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

Folks, irradiated food is a real problem. If you value your health, you will

avoid these foods like the plaque.

Related Articles:

Irradiated Food

 

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